TGIF Challenge #475 - “And They Lived Happily Ever After …” - Theme Challenge

It’s TGIF Challenge time! This week we are making projects around the theme “And they lived happily ever after …” I haven’t made a “wedding” card for a while, so this was fun for me!

The Spotlight On Nature Bundle is absolutely wonderful! I am a sucker for ANYthing with a butterfly in it … and the dies are sooooooo good! I started with some Azure Afternoon cardstock (LOVELOVELOVE) and used my watercolor brush to color the floral images, leaves and butterfly (using Blueberry Bushel, Azure Afternoon, Granny Apple Green and Lemon Lolly ink). 

I also used the edge of my paper snips to rough up the edges of the top layer of Azure Afternoon cardstock and the Balmy Blue sentiment panel.

I used one of my favorite techniques by taking the cap off my Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Write Marker and “flicking” the pen tip out of the inside of the pen lid, thus creating a splattered-ink look.

I also layered a couple of the dies from the Spotlight On Nature for the focal point and created the sentiment using a stamp from the Something Fancy Stamp Set and a die from the accompanying dies. 

Don’t even get me started on how GREAT the Cute Crochet 3D Embossing Folder is! My new favorite!

Stamps: Spotlight On Nature, Something Fancy

Paper: Azure Afternoon, Balmy Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Black Memento, Blueberry Bushel, Azure Afternoon, Lemon Lolly, Granny Apple Green; Stampin’ Write Markers - Azure Afternoon, Versamark

Accessories: Spotlight On Nature Dies, Something Fancy Dies, Cute Crochet 3D Embossing Folder, White Baker’s Twine, White Embossing Powder, Opal Rounds Assortment, Aqua Painter, Wink of Stella

Thanks for stopping by! Have an awesome weekend!

Monday Montage #261

Welcome back to another fun week of Monday Montage goodness!! So happy to be able to share with you what we have made!

I ended up using some of last year’s Brights and Regals DSP (I made this right before the catalog retired!). It just worked too-too good with this cute bear I couldn’t help myself.

This is a fun and funky fold. the White cardstock for the inside is a 5.25” x 10.5”. The fold stays on the right-hand side so that you can have a “surprise” opening. 

I colored this cuddly bear with my Stampin’ Blends.

Stamps: Fluffiest Friends, Hearts & Hugs (Sentiment)

Paper:  Real Red, Basic White, Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight, Early EspressoBrights DSP (retired)

Ink: Black Memento; Stampin’ Blends - Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink, Poppy Parade, Balmy Blue

Accessories: Fluffiest Friends Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Hearts & Hugs Dies, White Baker’s Twine, Tinsel Gems Four Pack

Ta-da!! Here’s the inside. I had sooo much fun playing with this fold and can’t wait to try it again!

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Bree Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance 

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations 

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Rae Jean Communal - My Stampin’ Memories - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU ARE HERE

Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick ... it’s fresh and fun!

TGIF Challenge #473 - Inspiration Challenge

Yay and HOORAY! It’s time once again for the TGIF Challenge!! This week’s fun challenge in an inspiration … create a “picture perfect” background - whether you use some lovely new DSP or create your own, the options are ENDLESS!!

Here’s my shot at it! And I am immediately admitting that I used a newly-retired stamp set because … yeah-yeah-yeah … I never used it while it WAS current!! I seem to be starting my own personal trend in my craft room! I used my Blending Brushes to lightly spread both Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie ink in the background. I then used my WaterPainter to dribble little drops of water through the background so make the paper look more textured and interesting.

My final technique for this background was me just taking the caps off of both my Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Write Markers to “flick” the pen tip out of the inside of the pen lid, thus creating a splattered-ink look. I LOVE how this one turned out!

I added some ribbon and embellishments to complement the dies and images in the foreground. Sometimes I feel like the MORE layers the BETTER! This was quick and easy and turned out pretty cool, I think!

Stamps: Warmest Heart (retired)

Paper: Whisper White, Bubble Bath, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight

Ink: Black Memento, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie; Stampin’ Blends - Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink, Lemon Lilly, Granny Apple Green; Stampin’ Write Markers - Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Warmest Heart Dies (retired), Perennial Postage Dies, Water Painter, 2024-2026 In Color Resin Dots, White 1/4” Diagonal Trim Ribbon

I hesitate to admit that I will be doing a 12K (8 mile) run for Huntsman Heroes in Ogden Canyon this weekend.  I am kind of nervous AND excited! Nervous because I would really like to finish the race without falling on my face or breaking some other useful-and-important body parts, and excited because this will be the longest race I will be participating in since my ACL/meniscus surgery back in October. Baby Steps …. I’m getting there!!

Just Because and Uh Oh!

I’ve actually had some time lately to create a card “just because” (which I haven’t been able to do for a while! I pulled out a stamp set I’ve had for a little while (including the dies!) to play a little! I was pretty happy with my finished product and sent a pic of it to my bestie, Bree Renwick. Her reply? “Very pretty! I’m so sad that set and dies just retired!” Wait … WHAT??? How did I MISS that??? I was SO SURE it had made “the cut” and was still on the “current” list! Uh oh! My bad!! But I don’t care since I really like how this one turned out!

So this card is a mishmash of current and retired stuff! I used an old corner rounder punch (face it, who doesn’t LOVE a good corner rounder??) on this as well as the aforementioned Notes of Nature stamps/dies. I also used the new amazing neutral “Basic Beige” cardstock! Love it! AAAaaand I used the Decked Circle Dies (which I am VERY please made the transition to the new year!)! 

I used Calypso Coral, Petal Pink, Soft Sea Foam and Lost Lagoon Stampin’ Blends to color the cute little flowers and leaves.

Sigh … I am especially sad to lose the little circle/stitches border die in this set because it is FAB! Not like I can’t use it again, but since it’s not “current” it makes me this twice!

Stamps: Notes of Nature (retired, sadly!)

Paper: Basic Beige, Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral, Petal Pink, Lost Lagoon

Ink: Black Memento, Early Espresso, Lost Lagoon; Stampin’ Blends - Calypso Coral, Petal Pink, Soft Sea Foam, Lost Lagoon

Accessories: Notes of Nature Dies (retired), Deckled Circle Dies, Trio Corner Rounder Punch (retired), Linen Thread

It’s totally OK to use retired stuff … heaven knows I have enough of it!

Monday Montage #260

It’s snowing … it’s cold … and it’s NOT supposed to be 34 degrees outside because it is stinkin’ MAY!!! Sigh … I guess that is the nature of spring. But some flowers are blooming and the grass is getting green, so there IS that!!! And the Monday Montagers are creating some beautiful things!

I am absolutely SMITTEN with this Country Birdhouse Bundle … SWOOOOON! I mean, seriously??? Could this BE any CUTER???? Fellow Monday Montager Bree Renwick made a card with this set a few weeks ago and I just had to go online and place an order for one. It is EVERYTHING I LOVE!!!

Here’s a close-up … isn’t the Country Woods Paper just to DIE for (ya see what I did there???)??? Every sheet is just sooooooo yummy!!

Stamps: Country Birdhouse

Paper:  Basic White, Early Espresso, Pool Party, Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, Soft Sea Foam, Country Woods DSP

Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso; Stampin’ Blends - Misty Moonlight, Pool Party, Petal Pink, Calypso Coral

Accessories: Country Birdhouse Dies, Perennial Postage Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Linen Thread, 2024-2026 In Color Shimmer Gems. White Embossing Powder

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Bree Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange- NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance 

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations 

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Rae Jean Communal - My Stampin’ Memories - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU ARE HERE

Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick ... it’s fresh and fun!

TGIF #471 - Color Challenge

It’s Friday, so you know what that means … time for the TGIF Challenge!! It’s fun to have some new stamps and such to play with for this week’s color challenge! So, let’s get to it!

This card was created using the new Leaf Collection background stamp and it is a stunner! I stamped each of the colors once and then pulled out my scissors and did a bunch of fussy cutting … something I find very relaxing, actually. I also stamped a piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock with Versamark. I sprinkled it with clear embossing powder and heat set it. I did the same with the White layer that is directly under the colored leaves, but it is hard to see in the photo. I love all the extra texture the clear embossing powder adds overall.

The sentiment is from Encircled in Nature. I used one of the dies from that bundle to highlight the sentiment. 

Stamps: Leaf Collection, Encircled in Nature

Paper: Whisper White, Lost Lagoon

Ink: Flirty Flamingo, Lost Lagoon, Daffodil Delight, Versamark

Accessories: Encircled in Nature Dies, Linen Thread, 2024-2026 In Color Shimmer Gems, Clear Embossing Powder

I saw a meme today that made me giggle … do you know why this month is called May?? It’s because it may be sunny, it may be rainy, it may be warm or it may be cold! We were 70 degree the other day and we are projected to have SNOW this weekend! All the seasons at once! Happy Spring!